Managed Competition Getting Underway

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Things are changing at San Diego's City Hall. The city council will get two new members and a new president before the day is over.

SAN DIEGO  It could be the dawn of a new era in San Diego. The city council will consider items this week that could lead to the outsourcing of some city services.

First the council will decide today on how to put the city’s IT services out to bid. The department has a budget $37 million. The Mayor’s office estimates contracting it out could save $10 million. Tomorrow, the council will determine what services bidders for the city’s publishing department must provide. That department’s budget is just under $6 million. Mayor Jerry Sanders acknowledges that’s not a lot compared to some other city expenses.

“But it’s significant in that we’re past all the legal challenges and delays and we’re finally implementing managed competition, which we believe will make the city operate more efficiently and at a lower cost to taxpayers,” Sanders said.

San Diego voters approved managed competition in 2006. The city is finally pursuing outsourcing just as the city council is changing. Newly elected Rep. Lorie Zapf and Dem. David Alvarez will be sworn into office later this morning.